Small diameter tube bender



1967 P. E. DAVIS, JR

SMALL DIAMETER TUBE BENDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10, 1964 fi/ 0 f.Dav/J, (fr.

INVENTOR' 1967 P. E. DAVIS, JR

SMALL DIAMETER TUBE BENDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 10, 1964 //7///,0f. flaw/J (fr.

INVENTOR.

United States Patent SMALL DIAMETER TUBE BENDER Philip E. Davis, Jr.,1423 Maury,

Houston, Tex. 77tl26 Filed Dec. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 417,289 Claims. (Cl.72-457) The present invention relates to a device for bending smalldiameter tubes, such as hollow tubes, up to approximately inch outerdiameter.

Various forms of tube and rod bending devices have been devised and usedover the years. Most of such devices a-re bulky and are complicated inconstruction as well as in operation, requiring complex manipulatlon bythe user.

The present invention relates to a simple device for bending smalldiameter tubes such as those up to approximately /8 inch outer diameterwhich can be carried 1n the pocket of the user and manipulatedrelatively easily with the hand or hands.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hollowtube bender so as to bend a tube and obtain a bend of a predetermineddesired length.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a tubebender for small diameter tubular elements which is constructed andarranged so as to inhibit wearing or flattening of any portion thereofduring repeated or continued use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invent on will become morereadily apparent from a consideration of the following description anddrawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating the preferred form of the presentinvention with a hollow tube positioned therein ready to be bent;

FIG. 2 is a back view somewhat similar to FIG. 1 showing additionalstructural details and the relationship of the components of theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, partly inelevation, showing further structural details of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of a tube bent to a predetermined length inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a back view of an alternate form of the invention for bendingthe hollow tube positioned therein up to 180; and

FIG. 6 is a front view of. the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 illustratingengagement of said invention with the hollow tube prior to bending.

Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 wherein the invention is shown ascomprising a body represented generally by the numeral which may be ofany suitable extent such as approximately 9 to 12 inches, the body 10being formed of flat strip material as shown more clearly at 11 in FIG.3 and having its side edges 13 and 14 tapered inwardly toward each otherand relative to the longitudinal axis represented by the line 15 to forma suitable area for grasping in the hand of a user. It will be notedthat the wider end of the body 10 is provided with a bent up portion orend 16 that extends at substantially right angles relative to the flatplate-like portion 11 of the body 10.

The bent end 16 extends laterally relative to the fiat portion 11 asuitable extent to accommodate functioning of the device as will bedescribed hereinafter.

The body 10 is provided with a slot 17 which is spaced from the bend end16 as more clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings and extendsalong the longitudinal axis represented by the numeral 15 as shown inFIG. 2 of the drawings. The slot 17 is formed by the curved end surfaces18 and 19 at each end thereof which are connected with the parallelspaced side surfaces 20 and 21.

ice

The slot 17 provides a means for receiving the wheel referred togenerally by the numeral 23. The wheel 23 is provided with an annulargroove 24 in the circumference thereof for receiving the hollow tuberepresented at 25 and positioning relative to the bent end 16 forbending of the tube 25 in a desired manner as will be describedhereinafter.

The wheel 23 is positioned on the body 1% by any suitable means and isshown as including a wheel mounting means represented generally by thenumeral 26. Such wheel mounting means 26 includes a portion 27 which, ifdesired, may be formed integrally with one side of the wheel 23 andextends through the slot 17 as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Theportion 27 is of smaller diameter than the width of the slot between theparallel side surfaces 20 and 21 of the slot 17 so that the wheel 27 mayfreely rotate and move longitudinally relative to body 10. However, theportion 27 fits snugly in slot 17 so that the wheel 23 moves up and downtherein along and in alignment with the longitudinal axis 15 of body Itfor a purpose to be described hereinafter. It will also be noted thatthe portion 27 is of less longitudinal extent that the distance betweenthe end surfaces 18 and 19 of the slot 17. This construction enables thetube 25 to be inserted in groove 24 of the wheel and the wheel thenmoved longitudinally of the body 10 to position the tube 25 adjacent thebent end 16 of plate 11 for bending of tube 25. Also, since the wheel 23may rotate freely relative to the body 10, wear on any one portion orspot on the wheel is reduced so that wear is evenly distributed.

The wheel mounting means 26 also includes the enlarged end 30 which isadapted to engage the rear surface 31 of the flat plate-like member 11and thereby retain the wheel 23 in position thereto. As a practicalmatter, the enlargement 30 may be formed by a screw which is adapted tobe threadedly received as shown at 33 with the portion 27 of the wheel23 to lock the wheel in position on the body 10 while permitting freelongitudinal movement thereof and free relative rotation between thewheel 23 and the body 10.

The invention also includes the additional body member represented bythe numeral 39 which is also formed of flat plate-like material and ispivotally connected to the body 10 by any suitable means such as the pin40 which fits through suitable aligned openings 41 in each the body 10and additional body member 39, such pin having a groove 42 thereinadjacent the surface 43 of the additional body 39 and adjacent thesurface 44 of the body 10 for receiving the spring retainer 45 thereinto hold the pin in place and thereby retain body 10 and additional bodymember 39 in proper relationship. Also, such construction enables body10 and additional body member 39 to be grasped by a user for urgingwheel 23 toward bent end 16 as will be described. The body 39 is formedwith edges which incline toward each other in a manner similar to bodymember 10 to facilitate grasping thereof by the user. Thus, theadditional body member 39 is free to move relative to the body 10, andit will be noted that the additional body 39 is provided with an arcuateend surface or edge 46 which is adapted to engage the periphery of theenlarged end 30 so that when the additional body 39 is moved relative tothe body 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2, the wheel 23 is movedlongitudinally of the slot 17 to position the tubular member 25 adjacentthe bent end 16 so that a hollow tube may be bent.

The depth of groove 24 in wheel 23 as represented at 24a in FIG. 3 isdetermined by the diameter of tube 25 to be bent. For example, if a tube/8 inc-h DD. is to be bent, a wheel having a groove depth 24a of 4 inchless than /8 inch is most satisfactory. It can be appreciated that adifferent wheel 23 may be used for each size tube.

The pitch diameter of the groove 24 is represented at 246 in FIG. 3 andis the distance from the bottom of groove 24 in wheel 23 to the centerof the tube 25 to be bent. Obviously, this will vary for various sizetubes and wheel grooves 24.

As previously noted, wheel 23, regardless of the depth of groove 24 andregardless of the size of tube 25 within the limits of the presentinvention, moves up and down in slot 17 in a straight line whichcoincides with the longitudinal axis of body 10.

Therefore, a vertical line drawn from the end 50 or 51 adjacent bent end16 as represented at 52 is tangent to the pitch diameter of the groove24 regardless of the depth of groove 24 and size tube (within the limitsof the present invention).

The above construction and arrangement enables a user to easily andquickly form a bend in a tube of a desired length. For example, assumethat it is desired to form a right angle bend in tube 25, a distancerepresented at 55 in FIG. 4. This is accomplished by placing a pencil orother suitable mark at 56 on tube 25 and then aligning mark 56 with theedge 50 as shown in FIG. 1 and bending tube 25 as indicated in dottedline to a right angle.

While it is believed that the operation of the invention is apparentfrom the foregoing description, to further amplify and describe, it willbe assumed that the present invention is to he used to bend a hollowtube 25 up to approximately "3 inch CD. A wheel 23 of proper size tomatch the outer diameter of tube 25 to be bent is positioned on body1.0. The tube 25 is marked as above described to provide a bend ofpredetermined length. The mark such as mark 56 on the tubing 25 isaligned with the edge 50 of body 10 and the wheel 23 may be movedupwardly to hold the tube 25 against bent end 16 by grasping body 10 andadditional body 39 and closing them toward each other. The tubing may bebent manually and then removed by releasing wheel 23 from engaging thetube against the bent end 16.

It can be appreciated that the wheel 23 can be quickly and easilychanged to accommodate the size of tubing 25 to be bent. Also, it aleft-handed person is using the invention, the additional body 39 may beeasily and quickly removed and turned over, or reversed, so as to engageenlargement on the side opposite to that shown in FIG. 2.

When body 39 is released relative to the body 10 after use of theinvention, the wheel 23 may move longitudmany of slot 17, and duringsuch movement, it is not uncommon for some rotation of the wheel 23 tooccur. Thus, the next time that the device is used, the hollow tube 25will contact another portion of the bottom of the groove 24, andsimilarly, the curved surface will contact another portion of theenlargement 30. This enables the device to be used repeatelly andcontinued over an extended period of time without causing undue wearingor flattening of any portion thereof.

Attention is directed to FIGS. 5 and 6 which illustrate an alternativeembodiment 60 of the present invention which is adapted to bend smalldiameter tubes or the like up to 180. The embodiment 60 illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6 includes a fiat plate-like member 61 having a laterallyextending portion 62 at the upper end thereof. Portion 62 includes anupturned edge 63 similar to the bent end 16 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 forreceiving small diameter tubing 64 thereagainst. In the preferred formillustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the embodiment 60, the plate-like member61 extends at right angles with respect to the lateral projection 62,and the edges 62a and 625 are perpendicular to the bent end 63.

The lateral projection 62 includes a slot 66 similar to the slot 17formed in the embodiment 10. The slot 66 includes semicircular ends 66aand 6612 between parallel side edges 66c and 66d as shown in FIG. 5. Theslot 66 accommodates wheel means indicated generally at 70 and providessupport therefor in moving same to and from a bending position,permitting relative rotation thereof as will be described hereinafter.The wheel means 70 includes a bending wheel 71 having a peripheralgroove 71a of a diameter related to the small tube 64 in the same way asthe relationship of wheel 23 to tube 25 previously described. The wheel71 is mounted on a wheel mounting means 72 having a reduced diametercircular portion indicated in dotted line at 73 in FIG. 5 and a largercircular portion 74 extending above the back side of the plate-likemember 61. The reduced diameter portion 73 carried on the wheel means 70fits between the parallel side edges 66c and 66d of the slots 66 withsufficient clearance to rotate therein and may reciprocatelongitudinally along the slot 66 to either of the semicircular ends 66aor 66b and transports the bending wheel 71 therewith as will bedescribed. The bending wheel 71 rotates with the wheel mounting means 72whereby the wheel 71 may rotate relative to the body 61 and move towardsor away from bent end 63.

The embodiment 60 includes an actuating member which is flat andplate-like similar to the member 61 and is joined thereto by connectivemeans indicated generally at 82. The connective means 82 includes ashaft 83 extending through appropriate openings in the members 61 and 80which is engaged at its outer ends byfiat springlike washers 84 whichfasten the members 80 and 61 together. The washers 84 are engaged withgrooves formed on the shaft 83, and reference is made to FIG. 3 fordetails illustrating similar structure employed in the embodiment 10.

The upper end of the plate-like member 80 includes an edge or surface80a which is adapted to contact the circular member 74 carried on thewheel mounting means 72 for translating same relative to thelongitudinal slot 66. Engagement of the edge 80a with the wheel means 70will be described in greater detail hereinafter relative to operation ofthe embodiment 60 of this invention.

The diameter of the bending wheel 71 having the encirculing groove 710formed therein is related to the length of the bent end 63 whereby theedges 62a and 62b of the plate-like member 61 define reference pointsfor indicating the extent of tubing 64 included in the bent portion andfurther defining the straight portion of tubing extending from thearcuately formed curve.

Considering operation of the embodiment 60, the tubing 64' is engagedwith the bent end 63 and positioned relative to either of the ends 62aor 62b and referenced thereagainst in a manner previously described. Theplate-like members 80 and 61 are grasped near the small ends thereof,and relative rotation about the pivotal means 82 is achieved bysqueezing or gripping in a manner akin to operating pliers or the like.The edge 80a is moved against the wheel mounting means portion 74 andprovides a cam action wherein the wheel mounting means indicated at 72is translated longitudinally of the slot 66 toward the bent end 63 tothereby engage the groove 71a with the tubing preparatory to bending.The tubing 64 is bent with reference to either of the edges 620 or 62band may even be bent to accomplish a bent, and a grooved depth ofperhaps inch less than the CD. of the tube to be bent.

The various diameter wheels 71 may be assembled readily by fabricatingthe wheel mounting means 72 carried on the back side of the plate-likemember 61 in the formof an enlarged head having internal threads forengaging in axial projection extending from the bending wheel 71. Bysuch means, the bending means indicated generally at 70 may be rapidlyand readily adjusted to accommodate various sizes.

When the actuating member 80 is released and the edge 80a disengagedwhereby the bending wheel means indicated generally at 70 is freed tomove laterally to the right as illustrated in FIG. 5, the bent tube 64may be removed from the device of this invention and additional tubingto be bent may be engaged therewith with ease and facility. In furtherparticular, it should be recognized that engagement and disengagement ofthe bending wheel means 70 with the tubing to be bent results in slightrotation of a perhaps random nature to engage different arcuat-eportions of the bending groove 71a with the tubing 64 from one"operation to the next. This rotation avoids the wearing of fiat spots inthe embodiment 60 in a manner similar to that described relative toembodiment 10.

Broadly, the present invention relates to a tube bending device whichmay be grasped in one hand of a user for bending small diameter hollowtube.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for bending hollow tubes up to approximately inch O.D.comprising:

(a) a body having one end bent at approximately 90 relative to the body,

(b) said body having a slot therein spaced from said bent end andextending along the longitudinal axis of said body, said slot having acurved surface at each end and spaced parallel side surfaces joined ateach end to said curved surfaces,

() a wheel having an annular groove in the circumference thereof forreceiving the tube to be bent,

(d) wheel mounting means having a portion extending through said slotand engaged with said wheel for mounting it adjacent said bent end, saidwheel mounting means having an enlarged end for abutting said body toposition said wheel thereon,

(e) said portion of said wheel mounting means extending through saidslot being smaller in diameter than the width of said slot between saidparallel side surfaces and being smaller in diameter than thelongitudinal extent of said slot between said end curved surfaceswhereby said wheel may rotate relative to said body and may move towardand away from said bent end on said body,

(f) an additional body member,

(g) means pivotally mounting said additional body member on said body,and

(h) said additional body member having an arcuate edge for engaging saidenlarged end of said wheel mounting means whereby movement of saidadditional body member relative to said body forces said wheel towardand away from said bent end.

2. A device for bending hollow tubes up to approximately inch O.D.comprising:

(a) a body having one end bent at approximately 90 relative to the body,

(b) said body having a slot therein spaced from said bent end andextending along the longitudinal axis of said body, said slot having acurved surface at each end and spaced parallel side surfaces joined ateach end to said curved surfaces,

(c) a wheel having an annular groove in the circumference thereof forreceiving the tube to be bent,

(d) wheel mounting means having a portion extending through said slotand engaged with said wheel for mounting it adjacent said bent end, saidwheel mounting means having an enlarged end for abutting said body toposition said wheel thereon,

(e) said portion of said wheel mounting means extending through saidslot being smaller in diameter than 1 the width of said slot betweensaid parallel side surfaces and being smaller in diameter than thelongitudinal extent of said slot between said end curved surfaceswhereby said wheel may rotate relative to said body and may move towardand away from said bent end on said body,

(f) an additional body member,

(g) means pivotally mounting said additional body member on said body,

(h) said additional body member having an arcuate edge for engaging saidenlarged end of said wheel mounting means whereby movement of saidadditional body member relative to said body forces said wheel towardand away from said bent end, and

(i) the pitch diameter of said annular groove in said wheel being invertical alignment with a line drawn from either end of said bent edgevertically and longitudinally of said body.

3. A device for bending hollow tubes up to approxi mately /8 inch O.D.comprising:

(a) a body having one end bent at approximately 90 relative to the body,

(b) said body having a slot therein spaced from said bent end andextending along the longitudinal axis of said body, said slot having acurved surface at each end and spaced parallel side surfaces joined ateach end to said curved surfaces,

(c) a wheel having an annular groove in the circumference thereof forreceiving the tube to be bent,

(d) wheel mounting means having a portion extending through said slotand engaged with said wheel for mounting it adjacent said bent end, saidwheel mounting means having an enlarged end for abutting said body toposition said wheel thereon,

(e) said portion of said wheel mounting means extending through saidslot being smaller in diameter than the width of said slot between saidparallel side surfaces and being smaller in diameter than thelongitudinal extent of said slot between said end curved surfaceswhereby said wheel may rotate relative to said body and may move towardand away from said bent end on said body,

(f) an additional body member,

(g) means pivotally mounting said additional body member on said body,

(h) said additional body member having an arcuate edge for engaging saidenlarged end of said wheel mounting means whereby movement of saidadditional body member relative to said body forces said wheel towardand away from said bent end, and

(i) said arcuate edge on said additional body member being formed sothat reversal of said additional body member on said body enables thedevice to be used by a left-handed user.

4. A device for bending hollow tubes up to approxi- 60 mately 45 inchO.D. comprising:

(a) a body having one end bent at approximately 90 relative to the body,

(b) said body having a slot therein spaced from said bent end and havinga curved edge at each end and spaced parallel side edges joining saidcurved edges,

(c) a wheel having an annular groove in the circumference thereof forreceiving the tube to be bent,

(d) wheel mounting means having a portion extending through said slotand engaged with said wheel for mounting it adjacent said bent end, saidwheel mounting means having an enlarged end for abutting said body toposition said wheel thereon,

(e) said portion of said wheel mounting means extend- 75 ing throughsaid slot being smaller in diameter than the width of said slot betweensaid parallel side surfaces and being smaller in diameter than thelongitudinal extend of said slot between said end curved surfaceswhereby said wheel may rotate relative to said body and may move towardand away from said bent end on said body,

(f) an additional body member,

(g) means pivotally mounting said additional body member on said body,and

(h) said additional body having an edge for engaging said enlarged endof said wheel mounting means whereby movement of said additional bodymember relative to said body forces said wheel toward and away from saidbent end.

5. A device for bending hollow tubes up to approximately /8 inch O.D.comprising:

(a) a body having one end bent at approximately 90 relative to the body,

(b) said bent end being on a lateral projection extending from the mainportion of said body,

(c) said body having a slot therein extending toward said bent end, saidslot having a curved edge at each end and spaced parallel side edgesjoined at each end to said curved edges,

(d) a wheel having an annular groove in the circumference thereof forreceiving the tube to be bent,

(e) wheel mounting means having a portion extending through said slotand engaged with said wheel for mounting it adjacent said bent end, saidwheel 8 mounting means having an enlarged end for abutting said body toposition said wheel thereon,

(f) said portion of said wheel mounting means extending through saidslot being smaller in diameter than the width of said slot between saidparallel side surfaces and being smaller in diameter than thelongitudinal extent of said slot between said end curved surfaceswhereby said wheel may rotate relative to said body and may move towardand away from said bent end on said body,

(g) an additional body member,

(h) means pivotally mounting said additional body member on said body,

(i) said additional body having cam means thereon for engaging saidenlarged end of said wheel mounting means whereby movement of saidadditional body member relative to said body forces said wheel towardand away from said bent end, and

(j) said groove accommodating bends of up to 180 in the hollow tube.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1962Baumgartner 72457 6/1964 Grazier 72457

1. A DEVICE FOR BENDING HOLLOW TUBES UP TO APPROXIMATELY 5/8 INCH O.D.COMPRISING: (A) A BODY HAVING ONE END BENT AT APPROXIMATELY 90* RELATIVETO THE BODY, (B) SAID BODY HAVING A SLOT THEREIN SPACED FROM SAID BENTEND AND EXTENDING ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID BODY, SAID SLOTHAVING A CURVED SURFACE AT EACH END AND SPACED PARALLEL SIDE SURFACESJOINED AT EACH END TO SAID CURVED SURFACES, (C) A WHEEL HAVING ANANNULAR GROOVE IN THE CIRCUMFERENCE THEREOF FOR RECEIVING THE TUBE TO BEBENT, (D) WHEEL MOUNTING MEANS HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH SAIDSLOT AND ENGAGED WITH SAID WHEEL FOR MOUNTING IT ADJACENT SAID BENT END,SAID WHEEL MOUNTING MEANS HAVING AN ENLARGED END FOR ABUTTING SAID BODYTO POSITION SAID WHEEL THEREON, (E) SAID PORTION OF SAID WHEEL MOUNTINGMEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT BEING SMALLER IN DIAMETER THAN THEWIDTH OF SAID SLOT BETWEEN SAID PARALLEL SIDE SURFACES AND BEING SMALLERIN DIAMETER THAN THE LONGITUDINAL EXTENT OF SAID SLOT BETWEEN SAID ENDCURVED SURFACES WHEREBY SAID WHEEL MAY ROTATE RELATIVE TO SAID BODY ANDMAY MOVE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID BENT END ON SAID BODY, (F) ANADDITIONAL BODY MEMBER, (G) MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID ADDITIONALBODY MEMBER ON SAID BODY, AND (H) SAID ADDITIONAL BODY MEMBER HAVING ANARCUATE EDGE FOR ENGAGING SAID ENLARGED END OF SAID WHEEL MOUNTING MEANSWHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID ADDITIONAL BODY MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID BODYFORCES SAID WHEEL TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID BENT END.